Top with a hollow stem and a rotatably connected object



Nov. 10, 1936. B. A. CANTER 2,060,029

TOP WITH A HOLLOW STEM ANDA ROTATABLY CONNECTED OBJECT Filed Oct. 7, 1955 Patented Nov. 10, 1936 PATENT OFFICE TOP WITH A HOLLOW STEM AND A ROTAT- ABLY CONNECTED OBJECT Barend Alexander Canter, Schevcningen, Netherlands Application October 7, 1935, Serial No. 43,948 In the Netherlands October 9, 1934 1 Claim. (CI. 46-65) The invention relates to a top having a hollow stem and an object rotatably connected to the same. A spinning top is executing a precessional movement with regard to its axis. With a 5 well-constructed top this movement is symmetrical and the top while spinning, practically remains in the same place. If, however, the said precessional movement is influenced in a way to render it unsymmetrical, the top will obtain a forward movement in a direction depending on the manner in which it is influenced. It is I possible tome-determine the nature of this motlon by calculation.

The present invention hasfor its purpose to utilize this phenomenon and to employ a top as a driving means for some other object. A top having a hollow stem is used in this connection.

According to the invention the object which has a stable equilibrium is joined to the top by means of a connecting member which extends with some play into the hollow stem of the top and which member is given a shape so as to influence the precessional motion of the top in a manner dependent on the said shape.

One 01' the most suitable applications of the invention is its use in the making of toys. It is possible to have one or more cars drawn by a top, or by changing the shape otthe connecting member to have the top push the cars along.

The invention, however, is not restricted to this application alone.

An embodiment of the invention will now be further explained with the aid of the drawing in which:

Fig. 1 represents the top, 2 is the stem porvided with a hollow portion 3. The object to be moved forward by the top in the present example is a toy-,tramcar l, which has a stable equilibrium, being supported by one, two, three,

portion 'l of which is placed in the cavity of the stem 2 as soon as the top is started spinning, the 6 bent wire touching the inner wall of the said 'cavity at a pre-determined spot.

With this embodiment the top as soon as the portion 1 of the wire is placed into the cavity 3 will start drawing the toy car 4. I1, how- 10 ever, the portion l 01' the wire is bent into the shape 1' indicated by dotted lines, the top will push the tramcar, instead oi. drawing it. The manner in which the precessional movement is influenced depends on the form of the part I and 1 of the shape of the walls of the cavity 3. These forms may be predetermined by calculation.

The invention provides a cheap and amusing toy, with which children may make all kinds of experiments, for it is not only possible to have 20 the top draw or push the car, but one may also shape the connecting member in such a way that the top and the car are moving in a circle of greater or smaller radius, so that the top is spinning in a circle about the stationary car. 2

I claim:

A top provided with a hollow stem and adapted to execute a symmetrical precessional movement with regard to its axis, and an object connected to said top and adapted to be moved thereby, 30 characterized in that the object which has a stable equilibrium is Joined to the top by means of a connecting member having a bent portion extending with some play into the hollow stem oi the top and which bent portion is shaped so as to move said top out 01' said precessional movement and thereby move said object.

BAREND ALEXANDER CANTER. 

